Flushing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A flushing apparatus particularly for plumbing fixtures embodies one main moving part which is adapted alternately to receive ballast water for closing a main flush valve and to become a float to assist in the opening of the flush valve after release of the ballast water. The main flush valve is directly attached to the one main moving part. Manual force may be utilized to implement the opening of the flush valve without complete reliance on flotation, and existing conventional tank handles and levers may be utilized. The main flush valve may also be closed manually to effect partial flushing for the sake of saving water.

a United States Patent 1 1 3,816,856 Braswell June 18, 1974 FLUSHINGAPPARATUS Primary Examiner-John W. Huckert Assistant ExaminerMilton S.Gerstein [76] Inventor 5 3 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-B. P. Fishburne, Jr.

[2] 1 Appl' NW 356,474 A flushing apparatus particularly for plumbingfixtures embodies one main moving part which is adapted ali52 u.s. CI4/58, 4/41, 4/56 ternately to receive ballast water for Closing min |s1Int. Cl E03d 1/34 flush valve and to become a float to assist in the p53 Field f Search 4/58, 3 41 7 56, ing of the flush valve after releaseof the ballast water. The main flush valve is directly attached to theone 5 References cu main moving part. Manual force may be utilized to implement the Opening 0f the flush Valve COmplete reliance on flotation,and existing conventional 3 g g ffg tank handles and levers may beutilized. The main flush valve may also be closed manually to effectpartial flushing for the sake of saving water.

412%;5 Drawin FEEL 1 FLUSHING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thepresent invention is an improvement on the flushing apparatus disclosedin prior US. Pat. No. 3,705,428, issued Dec. 12, 1972 to James W.Braswell. In general, the objectives of the invention correspond tothose set forth in the above-mentioned patent. Additionally, the presentinvention is considerably simpler in construction and even morereliable, efficient and positive in its operation than the device in thementioned prior patent. More particularly, several parts required forthe successful operation of the prior patented device have beeneliminated in the present invention without loss of efficiency andactually contributing to an improved mode of operation. Notably, theflexible tubing employed in conjunction with the counterweighted manualhandle in the prior patent has been eliminated and replaced by a moresimplified manual lever which is operated by light finger pressure on aconventionally located tank flushing handle. The present invention istherefore more easily adapted to existing conventional flush tanks. Itis also extremely suitable for the newly designed smaller type flushtanks which are coming into wide usage in connection with efforts toeconomize on the use of water. The entire apparatus embodying thepresent invention is installable on, or removable from, the usual tankwithout the necessity for separating the tank from the fixture;

In comparison to the mentioned prior patented device, the means forretarding the rise and fall of the main moving member is more positivein operation and more reliable, as will be fully explained. Probably themost important improvement over the prior art is the fact that the mainmoving member is not totally dependent on buoyancy for rising to openthe flush valve, and may be manually assisted with only light fingerpressure on the tank handle, which pressure is merely a small force inaddition to the buoyancy force required to overcome the pressure tendingto maintain the flush valve seated.

In the present invention, the main moving member in the apparatus isprovided with unique means to induce rotation of the member around itsvertical axis during rising so that each time the flush valve isreseated, it will contact the valve seat in a different position, thuskeeping the valve seat clean and smooth. Additional features andadvantages of the improved apparatus will be apparent during the courseof the following description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of the application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES FIG. I is a side elevational view,partly in section, of a flush tank equipped with the improved flushingapparatus embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged central vertical section through the apparatustaken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a similar section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawings in detail wherein likenumerals designate like parts, the numeral designates a flush tankhaving a depressed or recessed bottom wall central portion 11 tofacilitate complete tank drainage on each flushing cycle. The numeral 12designates a screw-threaded insert permanently attached to the tankbottom wall or cast integrally therewith, if preferred. This insertreceives an externally screw-threaded fitting 13 having a top annularhorizontal flange 14 disposed in the recessed portion of the tank bottomwall. A com pressible water sealing gasket 15 is interposed between theflange 14 and the recessed face of the bottom wall, as shown.

Plural circumferentially spaced :flns or spacers 16 are attached fixedlyto the fitting 13 and to a concentrically arranged centrally locatedvertical tube 17 which extends from a point immediately below thefitting 13 to a point above the maximum water level in the flush tank10. The tube 17 is held rigidly in the upright position andconcentrically with the Water outlet opening in the bottom of the flushtank at all times.

Formed integrally with the tube 17 at an elevation considerably abovethe tank bottom wall is an enlarged open top cup extension 18concentrically surrounding the tube 17 and having a horizontal bottomwall 19 joined thereto. This cup extension forms a part of thestationary component of the apparatus fixed to the tank bottom wall. Thecup extension 18 forms an annular chamber 20 capable of holding water upto the level 21 where the water will overflow the brim of the cupextension.

At its upper end, the tube 17 has a series of vertically spaceddiametrical openings 22 for the selective reception of a bolt or pin 23,by means of which a sleeve 24 may be adjustably mounted at the desiredheight on the exterior of the tube 17 near its top end. This sleeve 24serves as a positive stop element to limit the upward movement of thesingle main moving component 25 of the flushing apparatus, now to bedescribed.

The main moving component or unit 25 comprises an interior verticalsleeve 26 which closely surrounds the stationary tube 17 in sliding andvertically guided relationship therewith. The upper extension 27 ofsleeve 26 is somewhat thickened to abut an enlarged lower flange 28 onstop sleeve 24 when the moving unit 25 reaches the upper limit of itstravel, as indicated by broken lines in FIG. 2. The concentricallyarranged sleeve extension 27 and surrounding wall 29 of moving sleeveunit 25 form an upper annular chamber 30 for make-up water whoseoperation will be described. The chamber 30 is open at the top, asindicated.

The movable unit 25 carries an integral enlarged lower sleeve portion 31joined to the portion 29 by a horizontal wall 32, and which wall has twoor more orifices 33 communicating with the bottom of makeup chamber 30.The enlarged sleeve extension 31 provides the necessary volume forflotation of the movable unit 25 and the necessary space for thestationary cup 18 disposed concentrically within it. The unit 25 furthercomprises an intermediate sleeve 34 dependingly secured to the wall 32and arranged concentrically with the sleeve 26 and with the exteriorextension 31. The intermediate sleeve 34 and the sleeve 26 have theirlower ends terminating at the same elevation. The intermediate sleeve 34forms an inverted cup-like chamber with sleeve 26, open at the bottom,such chamber being previously indicated at 20. The elements 26 and 34 ofmovable unit 25 are capable of free vertical movement upwardly ordownwardly inside of cup extension 18, the latter being spaced fromsleeve 34 and from the exterior sleeve extension 31.

The extension 31 is provided near its vertical center with preferablyfour oblique propulsion vanes 35 whose purpose is to induce rotation ofthe moving unit 25 during the raising thereof to assure a clean seatingof the main flush valve on each flushing cycle.

The lower extremity of sleeve extension 31 contains an annular groove 36receiving the upper bead 37 of a flexible annular skirt-like neoprenevalve element 38. The bead 37 of this valve element preferably engagesthe groove 36 under considerable tension. The lower tapering edgeportion 39 of the flexible flush valve element contacts the smoothhorizontal face of flange 14 which serves as a valve seat surroundingthe flushing water outlet of the tank.

The upper extremity of the unit 25 carries a pair of spaced annularflanges 40 which receive between them the bifurcated arms 41 of a leverassembly 42, FIG. 1, connected with and operated by a conventionallylocated flushing handle 43 on the outside of the tank 10. Theextremities of the arms 41 are rounded as shown at 44 in FIG. 1 tominimize frictional contact with the flanges 40 which they engage. Lightfinger pressure on the handle 43 is transmitted through the leverassembly 42 to assist in raising the movable unit 25, as will be furtherdiscussed in connection with the operation of the apparatus.

The tank is equipped with the usual water filling device 45 and make-upwater tube 46 which delivers water into the open top of the sleeve 29.The numeral 47 indicates the high limit of movement of the unit 25 asdepicted in broken lines. The numeral 48 shows the normal water level inthe flush tank 10 and the numeral 49 shows the water level whenoverflowing into the top of the movable unit 25.

OPERATION Assuming the tank 10 to be filled with water to the normallevel 48, manual pressure is applied downwardly on handle 43 to elevatethe movable unit 25 which raises the flexible valve element 38 from theseat 14. The manual pressure required is slight because the unit 25 issubmerged and buoyant. The actual pressure required on the handle 43 isthe small difference in force between the buoyancy of the unit 25 andthe pressure of the water acting to maintain the valve element 38seated.

As the unit 25 rises sufficiently to unseat the valve element 38, themovable unit will rise freely to its high limit 47 established byabutment of the parts 27 and 28. As the unit 25 rises, air is drawn intothe lower chamber through the orifices 33 causing a gradual lifting ofthe assembly. During this rising movement, the angled vanes 35 reactagainst the water in the tank to cause rotation of the unit on itsvertical axis for the purpose already specified. The water from the tank10 flows through the bottom outlet of the tank to the fixture below toaccomplish flushing of the latter.

As the waterlevel in the tank recedes, the filling device 45 dischargeswater into the tank and also through the tube 46 into the top of theunit 25 and into annular chamber 30. As the water level falls in thetank 10, the unit 25 tends to fall by gravity but is held momentarily insuspension by air and water trapped in the lower chamber 28. Trapped airrising against the water in chamber and water being forced to spill overthe upper rim of cup 18 provides the time delay action necessary for thecomplete emptying of the tank 10. This constitutes a major feature ofthe present invention which contributes to a very efficient mode ofoperation. Additionally, air trapped in the water-filled chamber 20provides buoyancy for the entire movable unit 25. Additional force tolower the unit 25 is provided by the weight of the water as it increasesin the upper chamber 30. The unit 25 descends gradually vertically asthe tank 10 is emptied and no water acts on the vanes 35 at this time.The valve element 38 will come into contact with the seat 14 in adifferent circumferential position at every seating.

After the flushing valve is seated and the tank 10 is refilling withwater, make-up water flows through orifices 33 and over the upper lip ofcup extension 18 to the fixture below to re-establish the trap seal. Theapparatus is then conditioned for the next flushing cycle when required.

A further feature of the invention which should be mentioned is that theflush valve may be manually closed at will to save water. A slightdownward pressure on the movable unit 25 exerted through thelever 42will effect closing of the flush valve at any desired time.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as preferred example of the same, and thatvarious changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scopeof the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A flushing apparatus comprising a tank having a bottom dischargeopening, a fixed vertical supporting and guiding member within the tankextending above said bottom discharge opening and being substantiallyconcentrically arranged with respect to the discharge opening, a topopening enlarged cup-like member fixedly secured to said supporting andguiding member in surrounding relation thereto and being spaced abovesaid discharge opening, a vertically movable unit, said unit comprisingan interior sleeve closely surrounding said supporting and guidingmember and being openended and being vertically movable upwardly anddownwardly along said member, adjustable stop means near the top of saidsupporting and guiding member engageable with said sleeve to positivelylimit the upward travel of said unit, a pair of substantiallyconcentrically arranged depending sleeve extensions on said unitoutwardly of said sleeve, the innermost of said extensions projectingdownwardly inside of said cup-like member and the exterior sleeveextension disposed outwardly of the cup-like member and being longerthan said innermost extension and projecting below the bottom of thecup-like member, a horizontal wall on said unit joining said sleeve withsaid pair of depending sleeve extensions, said horizontal wall havingorifices formed therethrough between said sleeve and the innermostsleeve extension, there being an annular water ballast chamber on saidunit directly above said wall and being in communication with saidorifices, a flexible annular valve element carried by the lower end ofsaid exterior sleeve extension, a seat for said valve elementsurrounding said bottom discharge opening and engaged by the valveelement when said unit is in a downward position, and manually operablemeans including a handle on said tank connected with said verticallymovable unit to assist in raising the unit to unseat said valve element.

2. The structure of claim 1, and angled vane elements on said verticallymovable unit reacting against water in said tank during the elevation ofsaid unit to cause rotation of said unit on its vertical axis.

3. The structure of claim 2, and said vane elements being on saidexterior sleeve extension.

4. The structure of claim I, and said interior sleeve including an upperextension above saidhorizontal wall and forming the interior wall ofsaid water ballast chamber, said adjustable stop means comprising asleeve on said fixed vertical supporting and guiding member having alower end for abutment with said upper extension.

5. The structure of claim 4, and said supporting and guiding memberhaving plural vertically spaced openings near its top end, and crosspinmeans on said adjustable stop means selectively engageable with one ofsaid openings to lock the adjustable stop means at a selected elevationon said supporting and guiding member.

6. The structure of claim 1, and said manually operable meansadditionally comprising a lever connected with said handle, a bifurcatedextension on said lever, and a pair of spaced exterior flanges on saidvertically movable unit near the top thereof receiving said bifurcatedextension slidably therebetween.

7. The structure of claim 1, and said tank having a depressed bottomwall portion adjacent said discharge opening, and said seat for saidvalve element located on said depressed bottom wall portion below thetop face of the remainder of the tank bottom wall.

8. The structure of claim l, and a screw-threaded fitting means on thebottom wall of said tank, and radiating supporting and spacer elementsextending between the supporting and guiding member and the fittingmeans and connected to both and holding the supporting and guidingmember upright and substantially concentric with said bottom dischargeopening.

9. The structure of claim 1, and said flexible annular valve elementbeing a downwardly tapering skirt-like element having a thickened beadat its upper end, said exterior sleeve extension having an externalgroove for said bead, and said bead snugly seated in said groove undertension.

10. In a flushing apparatus adapted for mounting in a tank having abottom discharge opening, an upstanding guiding and supporting memberadapted to be fixedly secured adjacent to said discharge opening andextending thereabove, a cup-like element secured to said memberintermediate the ends of the member in surrounding relation to themember and being open at the top and having a bottom wall joined to themember, said cup-like element forming around said member an annularchamber for water, a vertically movable unit, said unit comprising aninterior sleeve telescoped slidably over said member and freely movableupwardly or downwardly relative to the member, an adjustable stop meanssecured to the top of said member and adapted to abut the top of saidsleeve to limit the upward travel of said unit, said unit additionallycomprising a horizontal wall joined to said sleeve between the ends ofthe sleeve, an intermediate sleeve portion on said unit outwardly ofsaid sleeve and being substantially concentric with said sleeve andjoined to said wall and extending above and below the wall, saidintermediate sleeve portion below the wall projecting inside of saidcup-like element in spaced relation to the side wall of the cup-likeelement and being movable upwardly or downwardly relative to thecup-like element, an exterior sleeve por tion on said unit joined tosaid wall and disposed outwardly of the cup-like element and surroundingthe latter, said exterior sleeve portion extending for a substantialdistance below the bottom of said sleeve and said intermediate sleeveportion, a flexible annular valve element secured to the bottom of theexterior sleeve portion and adapted for contact with a valve seat at thebottom of a tank surrounding said discharge opening, said intermediatesleeve portion above said wall and the corresponding portion of saidsleeve forming with said wall an annular ballast and make-up waterchamber above said wall, said wall being apertured between said sleeveand intermediate sleeve portion to place said last-named chamber incommunication with said first-named chamber formed by said cup-likeelement, and manually operable means connected with said unit to assistin raising the unit for unseating said valve element, said unit beingbuoyant and having its buoyancy increased by the emptying of saidballast and make-up water chamber, said unit tending to move downwardlyby gravity and having its downward movement assisted by water in saidballast and make-up water chamber, said downward movement of said unitbeing retarded during the flushing cycle by the entrapment of air andwater in said first-named chamber below said wall formed by saidcup-like element.

11. The structure of claim 10, and vane projections V on said unitinducing rotation of the unit on its upright axis during upward movementof the unit.

1. A flushing apparatus comprising a tank having a bottom dischargeopening, a fixed vertical supporting and guiding member within the tankextending above said bottom discharge opening and being substantiallyconcentrically arranged with respect to the discharge opening, a topopening enlarged cup-like member fixedly secured to said supporting andguiding member in surrounding relation thereto and being spaced abovesaid discharge opening, a vertically movable unit, said unit comprisingan interior sleeve closely surrounding said supporting and guidingmember and being open-ended and being vertically movable upwardly anddownwardly along said member, adjustable stop means near the top of saidsupporting and guiding member engageable with said sleeve to positivelylimit the upward travel of said unit, a pair of substantiallyconcentrically arranged depending sleeve extensions on said unitoutwardly of said sleeve, the innermost of said extensions projectingdownwardly inside of said cup-like member and the exterior sleeveextension disposed outwardly of the cuplike member and being longer thansaid innermost extension and projecting below the bottom of the cup-likemember, a horizontal wall on said unit joining said sleeve with saidpair of depending sleeve extensions, said horizontal wall havingorifices formed therethrough between said sleeve and the innermostsleeve extension, there being an annular water ballast chamber on saidunit directly above said wall and being in communication with saidorifices, a flexible annular valve element carried by the lower end ofsaid exterior sleeve extension, a seat for said valve elementsurrounding said bottom discharge opening and engaged by the valveelement when said unit is in a downward position, and manually operablemeans including a handle on said tank connected with said verticallymovable unit to assist in raising the unit to unseat said valve element.2. The structure of claim 1, and angled vane elements on said verticallymovable unit reacting against water in said tank during the elevation ofsaid unit to cause rotation of said unit on its vertical axis.
 3. Thestructure of claim 2, and said vane elements being on said exteriorsleeve extension.
 4. The structure of claim 1, and said interior sleeveincluding an upper extension above said horizontal wall and forming theinterior wall of said water ballast chamber, said adjustable stop meanscomprising a sleeve on said fixed vertical supporting and guiding memberhaving a lower end for abutment with said upper extension.
 5. Thestructure of claim 4, and said supporting and guiding member havingplural vertically spaced openings near its top end, and crosspin meanson said adjustable stop means selectively engageable with one of saidopenings to lock the adjustable stop means at a selected elevation onsaid supporting and guiding member.
 6. The structure of claim 1, andsaid manually operable means additionally comprising a lever connectedwith said handle, a bifurcated extension on said lever, and a pair ofspaced exterior flanges on said vertically movable unit near the topthereof receiving said bifurcated extension slidably therebetween. 7.The structure of claim 1, and said tank having a depressed bottom wallportion adjacent said discharge opening, and said seat for said valveelement located on said depressEd bottom wall portion below the top faceof the remainder of the tank bottom wall.
 8. The structure of claim 1,and a screw-threaded fitting means on the bottom wall of said tank, andradiating supporting and spacer elements extending between thesupporting and guiding member and the fitting means and connected toboth and holding the supporting and guiding member upright andsubstantially concentric with said bottom discharge opening.
 9. Thestructure of claim 1, and said flexible annular valve element being adownwardly tapering skirt-like element having a thickened bead at itsupper end, said exterior sleeve extension having an external groove forsaid bead, and said bead snugly seated in said groove under tension. 10.In a flushing apparatus adapted for mounting in a tank having a bottomdischarge opening, an upstanding guiding and supporting member adaptedto be fixedly secured adjacent to said discharge opening and extendingthereabove, a cup-like element secured to said member intermediate theends of the member in surrounding relation to the member and being openat the top and having a bottom wall joined to the member, said cup-likeelement forming around said member an annular chamber for water, avertically movable unit, said unit comprising an interior sleevetelescoped slidably over said member and freely movable upwardly ordownwardly relative to the member, an adjustable stop means secured tothe top of said member and adapted to abut the top of said sleeve tolimit the upward travel of said unit, said unit additionally comprisinga horizontal wall joined to said sleeve between the ends of the sleeve,an intermediate sleeve portion on said unit outwardly of said sleeve andbeing substantially concentric with said sleeve and joined to said walland extending above and below the wall, said intermediate sleeve portionbelow the wall projecting inside of said cup-like element in spacedrelation to the side wall of the cup-like element and being movableupwardly or downwardly relative to the cup-like element, an exteriorsleeve portion on said unit joined to said wall and disposed outwardlyof the cup-like element and surrounding the latter, said exterior sleeveportion extending for a substantial distance below the bottom of saidsleeve and said intermediate sleeve portion, a flexible annular valveelement secured to the bottom of the exterior sleeve portion and adaptedfor contact with a valve seat at the bottom of a tank surrounding saiddischarge opening, said intermediate sleeve portion above said wall andthe corresponding portion of said sleeve forming with said wall anannular ballast and make-up water chamber above said wall, said wallbeing apertured between said sleeve and intermediate sleeve portion toplace said last-named chamber in communication with said first-namedchamber formed by said cup-like element, and manually operable meansconnected with said unit to assist in raising the unit for unseatingsaid valve element, said unit being buoyant and having its buoyancyincreased by the emptying of said ballast and make-up water chamber,said unit tending to move downwardly by gravity and having its downwardmovement assisted by water in said ballast and make-up water chamber,said downward movement of said unit being retarded during the flushingcycle by the entrapment of air and water in said first-named chamberbelow said wall formed by said cup-like element.
 11. The structure ofclaim 10, and vane projections on said unit inducing rotation of theunit on its upright axis during upward movement of the unit.